Bengal polls to be cancelled if Mamta defies transfer orders

Bengal polls to be cancelled if Mamta defies transfer orders

This Reuters photo taken on March 12, 2014 shows Mamata Banerjee, chief minister of the eastern Indian state of West Bengal and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief, addressing her supporters in front of a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi during a rally ahead of the 2014 general elections, in New Delhi. Photo: Reuters

The Indian Election Commission is likely to take action if West Bengal government does not comply with its order to transfer officials, Times Now, complemented by Times of India reports quoting EC sources.
The commission may even cancel polls in the concerned districts if the Mamata government refuses to carry out the transfers, the sources said.
The EC had on Monday ordered transfer of eight West Bengal officials including five district police chiefs and one district magistrate, but a defiant chief minister Mamata Banerjee refused to carry out the instruction and said she was even prepared to go to jail.
The commission's order, which came a day after the full bench of the poll panel held wide consultations with state officials and political parties, was sent to the state chief secretary Sanjay Mitra on Monday.
The Superintendents of Police (SPs) -- in charge of West Midnapore, Bardhman, Birbhum, Malda and North 24 Parganas districts -- were involved in the reshuffle along with the district magistrate of North 24 Parganas.
Seven of the officials, including two additional district magistrates, removed from their post during the day, have been relieved from poll duty, while Birbhum SP Alok Rajoria has been shifted to the vacant post of SP of Jhargram police district.
The commission had asked the state government to implement the orders by Tuesday.

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